James received his Bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College (Biology, Sociology and Anthropology) and his PhD from Harvard University in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. He is interested in how organisms interact with each other and their environments, and how these interactions drive broader ecological processes and the delivery of ecosystem services in agriculture. At UW-Madison, his research group studies bees and plant-pollinator interactions, with an applied interest in supporting pollinators and pollination in agroecosystems. To study the dynamics of these complex biological systems (from collective behavior to ecological networks), his lab develops low-cost, scalable techniques for experimental automation, data collection, and analysis.

I'm an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow studying the thermal physiology of bees pollinating early-blooming fruit crops, with an interest in determining the stability of these pollination services under climate change. I completed my PhD at Arizona State University, studying the effects of pesticides on bee learning, navigation, and foraging. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, where I studied social behavior and cognition in paper wasps.

I study collective behavior and colony development in bumblebees, and seek to understand colonies’ behavioral responses to both environmental and human-borne stressors, such as temperature extremes and pesticide exposure. Furthermore, I am curious as to how variation in traits of individuals within colonies can drive variation in colony-level performance at particularly stressful periods of development. I use emerging imaging technology to build behavioral devices to study colonies both in controlled laboratory settings and out in the field. I have spent a lot of time and effort rearing colonies from wild queens for my research, and have grown very fond of the art of (bumble)bee keeping

I am interested in the effects of heatwaves and fire on plant-insect interactions. I am most excited by trying to understand how these stressors differentially affect insects throughout ontogeny. I am studying effects of wildfire ash deposition on plant-herbivore interactions with Manduca sexta, and the effects of heatwaves on social and solitary bee biology and behavior. I am excited about using computer vision tools to study insect behavior, and applying molecular techniques to understand the mechanisms causing altered fitness. I’m passionate about science communication and increasing diversity in ecology. Outside of research I like taking long walks, talking about research, doing pottery, riding horses, and trying not to fall of my bike!

Acacia is a PhD student in the Crall lab working on several projects. During their time as a master’s student, they studied the relationship between the gut microbiome and the social network of bumblebees. In addition to carrying out lab experiments, they also developed a python algorithm to track bees with the use of BEEtag and OpenCV.

I’m a recent UW graduate with a degree in Biology, and I’ve been a member of the lab for over a year. I’ve always had an interest in insects, and my appreciation for them, especially bees, has only grown from my experience working with bumble bees. I’m particularly interested in behavioral variation in bumble bees, as well as how that affects responses to stressors. In the lab, I’m currently helping with a project looking at behavior and colony performance across the lifespan of a colony, and am starting a project investigating bumble bee behavioral variation and responses to stress. In my free time I enjoy keeping aquariums, reptiles, and other fun critters and creepy-crawlies.

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Biology, and I am pursuing certificates in Environmental Studies and Global Health. I am interested in human-insect and plant-insect relationships, as well as the connection between the environment and medicine. I love spending time outside, especially last summer when I worked in a butterfly garden!

Andrzej Affek is a visiting Associate Professor from Poland. He earned his PhD in Earth Sciences from the Institute of Geography at the Polish Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on the complex relationships between humans and the environment, with a particular emphasis on landscape ecology, landscape change, and ecosystem services. At the Crall Lab, Andrzej is investigating how microclimatic variation and landscape structure influence the functioning of wild pollinators and the provision of pollination services. Utilizing the BumbleBox behavioral tracking system and computer vision techniques, his work aims to uncover how key environmental stressors—such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, and nutrition—impact nest behavior, foraging activity, and colony growth in bumblebee populations.

Jeremy is an ecologist and entomologist interested in how insects respond to changes in the landscape - specifically those related to large-scale global changes in agriculture and climate. He's intersted in modern ecoinformatics approaches to explore questions and patterns related to insect ecology and global change and then use lab and field experimentation to test theories and develop more robust, causal associations between changes in the landscape and those in insect behavior, populations, and communities.

I am a graduate student in the lab interested in exploring plant-pollinator interactions, how they may be affected by anthropogenic global change, and the implications for biodiversity conservation and sustainable food production. I am originally from India, but earned my BS in Biological Sciences at Cornell University, where I worked with Dr. Andre Kessler on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of herbivore-induced plant defenses. Outside of research, I love talking about my housing co-op, hanging out with my housemates, cooking and eating with them… you get the idea.

I am a graduate student studying entomology and agroecology. I am interested in understanding how climate change, agriculture, and sustainable practices can help us to understand pollinator resilience. I am currently part of the Bee Campus Team, working to make the campus a pollinator-friendly and more sustainable habitat. Outside of research, I enjoy hiking, camping, volunteering at the Humane Society, and trying new stuff. I just ran my first marathon too!

Rafael is a research specialist in the Crall Lab working on the Temperature by Environmental Screens project with James Crall as well as assisiting in other projects within the lab. My undergraduate degree is from Arizona State University and focused on Conservation Ecology and Biology. My research interests are within Urban Ecology with a focus on the effects of habitat fragmentation.

I'm a senior at UW-Madison majoring in biochemistry. I'm interested in the individuality in behavior and learning in bumblebees, and how it impacts colony roles and adaptability to stressors.

I'm an undergraduate freshman from China studying Wildlife Ecology/Biology. I've had a lasting interest in ecology, originating from my birding experiences. I'm particularly interested in the response of organisms to human-induced changes and ways to promote coexistence through the development of conservation strategies. In the lab, my responsibility primarily entails assisting in experiments investigating the effect of drought on plant-pollinator interactions. In my free time, you would find me trying to pick a Thayer's Gull out of hundreds of Herrying Gulls or playing soccer!